Valentine JOY...

Look what showed up at my door early Valentine day!! Thank you Stef for the goodies and to the kiddos for our valentine cards!! It is nice to be remembered on this day even if you don't have a Sweetheart!! lol

The JOY of a brother...

Here is my fixed cord,so I am back in business !!




Here he is with our mother recently and his youngest daughter, Melissa!!

You know on February 11, 1960 I didn't think much of the idea of having a brother!! He took my place of being the baby, for a little over 4 years. I had enjoyed that spot immensely and was a little tyrant. But as much as I wanted to not like this interloper, he was cute and clever and I couldn't help loving him and wanting to protect him... so alas he became the baby of the family (for 8 years) and the only boy and we all doted on him!! He was without a doubt our parents favorite!! Even today he is the favorite, but I don't mind because he is my favorite brother!! He is a man on whom you can rely, he's kind and a loving husband, father and grandfather. And really quite brilliant, this week alone he fixed my cord to my computer, bought me an ice cream cone, fed Hill and I dinner (actually his wife did) when we just dropped in for the day, and then asked us not to try out for American Idol after we sung him Happy Birthday on the speaker phone!! So for 52 years now he has been fixing things for us and has been our biggest cheerleader!! Happy Birthday Bro, You Rock!!

Oh what JOY spring is about to sprung!!

Here in Clovis we must be prepared for Spring, because if we blink we will miss it!! We only have a few precious moments of Spring and then it becomes Summer !! So I am poised and ready, ah to be able to not run the heater nor air conditioner for a few days, and to have the air blowing thru my hair with the car windows down !! Yes it is beginning to feel like Spring here!!! And I am finding JOY in that!!

My joy today was Clovis 2nd ward...

DeAnn and Gary Brunsvik greeting Elder Benson Brunsvik at the Fresno Air terminal!

I miss Clovis 2nd ward... today we attended, what we call our home ward, Clovis 2nd ward. A dear friend, Elder Benson Brunsvik, returned from his mission this week and was speaking in Sacrament meeting. So we attended to hear him speak. From the minute we left the car, people were saying hello, hugging us, and telling how much they missed us!! It felt wonderful !! We are new in our ward and therefore are still in the infant stages of our accquaintances there!! Not that people are unfriendly because they are not, they just don't know us yet and so we get a smile and an excuse me as they step past me to another seat. I know we will eventually know everyone in this ward too, but in the mean time it was great to be in my "Cheers" were everybody knows my name!!!

Happy Happy JOY JOY...

Tonight my JOY is from be able to be at the Fresno air terminal when Elder Benson Brunsvik came home from his mission in Guatamala!! This is a scene I never tire of !! WELCOME HOME Dear Benson, you were sorely missed here and now Guatamala is missing you!! P.S. thanks for the picture Jeff!!

What a JOY she is...

This week I got to "do a favor" for my sister, while she was out of town with her husband celebrating his birthday, I got to pick Jenna up from school and take her to Basketball practise, and cheer practise and home again. Where her older brother (20) got to be in charge. But the secret is I really love picking up Jenna at times like this, cuz we get to visit and talk about stuff... with no one else along. I Really enjoy her company, she is the most amazing young lady. It is even more special because she says she likes hanging out with me too!! I love my Jenna Benna! I can't wait to watch as our little butterfly spreads her wings and to see who she becomes. She could quite possibly be President someday!! Well something awesome any way, maybe even something better, a MOTHER!! She brings me JOY!!!

My JOY in Visit Teaching...

My JOY today is Visiting Teaching...

Today I went visiting teaching for the first time in months!! Not because I didn't want to, but through the transition from Clovis 2nd Ward to Gettysburg Ward (during my illness and sojourn at my parents) I didn't have a calling nor was I asked to visit teach until now!! In my new ward Orchard View I now have a companion and two sisters to visit. VT was my first calling as an adult, I have made my best friends through this calling and love to visit, as anyone who knows me will attest!! But, I can be long winded... ok am long winded!! It is the only way you can get to know the sisters when you move into a new ward, Sundays are too full of busyness to spend time visiting with each other. So today I'm done for this month and feel like I'm getting to know some of the sisters in my new ward. Maybe soon I'll even have a busy calling and learn why I am in this ward. So I thought I would post quotes from Sister Beck where she explains VT and how VT should feel and work!! I have not always been the greatest Visiting Teacher, but I have always loved the sisters I had stewardship over!! What uplifiting experiences have you had as a Visiting Teacher or through your own visiting teacher?


Through visiting teaching, we provide watchcare by contacting each sister, sharing a gospel message, and seeking to know her and her family’s needs. “Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages,” explains Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president. “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.”